Apparatus for spreading tubular fabrics



S. CaN ET AL APPARATUS FOR SPREADINO TUBULAR AERICS Original Filed Dec.13, 1941 Patented Sept. 25, 1945 APPARATUS FOR SPREADIN G TUBULARFABRICS Samuel Cohn and Joseph Cohn, New York, and Jules G. Walter,Ridgewood, N. Y.

Original application December 13, 1941, Serial No. i 422,844, now PatentNo. 2,339,151, dated January 11, 1944.

Divided and this application January 121, 1944, Serial No. 517,888

l fied form of engagement of thesupport rolls with Claims.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for spreading travelingtubular fabric and is particularly applicable for use with tubularknitted or woven fabrics which because of their structure are readilydistorted.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and efficientfloating spreader structure. A further object is to provide;a spreaderdesigned to reduce transverse and longitudinal tensions in the travelingfabric to such an extent that the fabric may be drawn over the spreader1 without localized distortion at the edges.

A- further object is to eliminate fabric propelling means such as edgepropellers or driven rolls engaging the fabric intermediate the edges.

A further object is to provide a floating spreader capable of laterallydistending tubular fabrics beyond their normal widths withoutlongitudinal tension or deflection of the transverse 4 courses of thematerial. i

Our improved `spreader is intended primarily for use at those stages inthe finishing processes when it is desired to spread the fabric in flatform with only such lateral tension on the material as is incident tothe spreading operation.

Our spreader may also be employed to distend, flatten and guide fabricpreliminary to a pressing or Wet or dry finishing operation.

By using belts at the marginal edges of the spreader longitudinaltension on the fabric is reduced, permitting shrinkage of the fabric andpreserving the transverse alinement of the cloth as it travels over thespreader.

The fabric may be spread laterally to widths exceeding the normal widthof the fabric, particularly when the fabric is Wet. This is advantageousin increasing the` spread of the fabric in that this normal width is notexceeded where there is a frictional drag at the edge portions such asexists on a conventional spreader. At the same time our improvedspreader maintains the relationship between the. center and edgeportions of the fabric as it travels over the spreader, and whateverrelationship this is at the entrance is maintained .throughout thespreading action.

Our invention is illustrated in the appended .drawing in which Fig. 1 isa plan View of one side of a spreader embodying our invention andsupported at opposite edges by idle rolls; l

Figs. 2 and '3 are similar views of modified forms of spreaders; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modithe side frames.

'I'he spreader illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a pair of generallyparallel side frames 26, 21 on each side connected to the ends 29 of thedead bar 32 and having tapered inwardly bowed ex tremities 30 tofacilitate drawing the fabric on to the spreader,

iFig. 1 illustrates one side of the spreader consisting of a pair ofheads 23 disposed on opposite'sides of the apparatus and adjustablyconnected by means of vsleeves 24 and stud 25 to provides. unitarystructure variable in width. Rods 28; 21 extend from heads 23 andsupport frame blocks 28, 23 at opposite ends of the spreader.

Feed bow 30 is attached to forward frame block 23 which also supports anadjustable cross rod 3| connected to a similar frame block on theopposite side of the spreader.

Belt 33 passes around pulleys 34, 35 mounted i respectively in theforward and rear frame blocks and over a pair of pulleys 36, 31supported on head 23. Intermediate pulleys 38, 39 are, provided toprevent inward deflection of the belt when in use.

The side edges 52 (Fig. 3) of pulleys 36, 3l are convex and fit into acorresponding concave edge i 53 of support roll 40. Shaft 4| of supportroll;

31 convex and that of the1 support roll 40 confl cave, the convexity andconcavity may be reversed or any desired configuration may be em'-ployed to provide an interfltting of the roll edges sumcient to securethe desired support for the spreader. l

Roll 40 is not driven but it is rotatably mounted on shaft 4I and willturn if sufficient pressure exists between the roll and belt 33 oroverlying fabric. uw

Figs. 2 and 3 show further modifications of the spreader. In Fig. 2 thebea u is located ot only one side of the support roll and passes aroundonly one of the pair of pulleys 36, 31 mounted in head 23. Fig. 3illustrates another arrangement in which two belts 42, 43 are employedin lieu of the single belt shown in Fig. l. 4

With an edge support of the type illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 thespreader is held against longitudinal movement and does not tend to bedrawn into the nip of succeeding pressing rolls (not shown). It isaccordingly possible to dispense with the dead bar if desired.

As, illustrated in Fig. 4 rolls 56', 51 may be positioned on thespreader frames 2' out of contact with the roll 40. In this case th'eedge of the spreader frame 2f is formed to fit into the contour of roll40 with the belt 22' running in grooves in the frame and the roll.

The belts may be of various materials and contours, depending upon thedesign and conditions of use, and for instance, may be made of rubber orrubber with fiber core, leather, plain or'impregnated fabric, chain orspiral wire spring; and may be round or V-shaped. They may be arrangedin various ways, depending upon th'e nature of the fabric and the typeof treatment desired.

While the embodiment of our spreader illustrated in the figures hasparallel side frames, it should be understood that other forms are alsosuitable. For example, the spreader frames may be angularly disposed byvarying the relative lengths of the cross rods 3l and 32 so that thefabric is gradually distended to the predetermined width' as it travelsover the spreader.

In operation the fabric is drawn by the pressing rolls and first passesover the inclined outer extremities 30 which serve to expand the fabricgradually until it attains its desired or predetermined width. Once soexpanded the fabric edges come into contact with the edge belts. Suchbelts, by tending to move with the fabricl reduce frictional drag at theedges thus tending to reduce and minimize the longitudinal tension andalso maintain the material against distortion of the transverse wales asit passes over the spreader. Just prior to entering the nip of thepressing rolls the fabric moves across the dead bar 32 which serves toposition and guide the fabric entering the rolls and also prevents thespreader from being drawn therebetween.'

The side rolls 40 will have their supporting shafts transverselyadjustable to position them to correspond to each transverse adjustmentof the spreader and maintain the contours of the rolls and spreaderaccurately conforming to support the spreader while at the Sametime`permitting easy passing of the fabric between the rolls and thespreader surfaces.

Our improved spreader is economical to manufacture because it is notnecessary to provide means for driving the edge belts or support rolls.`The freedom from edge friction reduces the drag and correspondinglyminimizes the longitudinal pull required to move the fabric. 'I'h'iselimination of the longitudinal tension permits a wider lateralspreading of the fabric considerably beyond the width to which it couldbe spread otherwise. y

This application is a division of our Patent No. 2,339,151 grantedJanuary 11, 1944.

We claim:

1. In a system for spreading and flattening a traveling tubular fabricadapted to pass said fabric to transverse driven rolls engaging anddrawing the fabric in flattened fo'rm between them, the combination ofla floating spreader within the tubular fabric and drawn thereby intothe nip of said driven rolls, said spreader comprising a transverse deadbar at said rolls and side frames connected to said dead bar andcarrying freely rotatable pulleys with idle belt means runninglengthwise along said side frames and contacting the fabric at the edgesand moving therewith to a point adjacent said driven rolls so as tospread the fabric and deliver. it to said rolls without substantialfrictional dragat the spread area and supporting side rolls f havinggrooved peripheries engaging the fabric and pressing it against saidbelt means and acting to support said floating spreader.

2. A system as set forth in clai'm l in which' the belthineans at eachside runs in .a continuous loop'along the side frame and is engagedintermediate its ends by the supporting idlenroll.

3. A `system as set forth in claim l in which the belt means forms aloop running from the entrance end of the spreader to the supportingidler side roll, the remainder of the spreader between the supportingside roll and the transverse rolls being belt-free. c

4. A system as set forth in claim l in which the belt means is formed bytwo separate continuous belts along each side frame, said belt loopshaving adjacent ends contacting the supporting side roll.

5aA system as set forth in claim 1 in which,

there are separate belts on each side of the frame and idler beltpulleys on the spreader frame preceding and following the supportingidler side rolls and spaced from said rolls to permit the belt o n eachside to run inward toward the spreader frame in contact with said siderolls and between said idler pulleys.

SAMUEL COHN. JOSEPH COHN. JULES G. WALTER.

